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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

HARRY F. IVYATT, OF NEIV YORK, Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HUBERT S.BROIVN, OF SAME PLACE.

CLASP FOR CORSETS, 840.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,104, dated June 16,1891 Application filed July 17, 1890- Sen'al No. 359,024. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY F. \VYATT, a sub ect of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, and a resident of New York city, New York, haveinvented an Improved Clasp for Corsets, &c., of which the following is aspecification.

My invention consists of an improved clasp more especially designed foruse on corsets, but which is applicable to various other articles, suchas pocket-books, card-eases, &c.

The object of my invention has been to produce a clasp which will remainsecurely fastened and yet permit the easy release or separation of theparts of the clasp when desired, and this object has been attained byproviding means for retaining the tongue of the clasp at the base of thecatch or tooth when closed, the clasp being nevertheless readilyreleased or opened by lifting the part carrying theretaining-catch.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective Viewillustrating the application of one of my clasps to a corset, which mayof course be provided with any suitable number of such clasps. Fig. 2 isan enlarged side View showing the two parts of the clasp open, but readyto be united. Fig. 3 is a corresponding view showing the clasp closed.Fig. 4 is a similar View of a modification of the clasp with the twoparts closed, andFig. 5 1s a View of another modification with the twoparts of the clasp open or detached.

In all the figures I have shown my clasp as applied to a corset, the twoparts of the clasp being riveted or otherwise secured to the steels orbnsks A A of the corset; but, as I have said, the clasp may be appliedto other articles.

One part B of the clasp, which is shown as fastened to the steel or buskA, consists, es-

sentially, of a simple tongue having an opening 6 for the admission ofthe retaining tooth or catch on the other part of the clasp. The outerend of this tongue is extended some distance out beyond this opening I)for a purpose explained hereinafter, and the tongue itself is in thiscase bent upward at b. The

' other part D of the clasp is made of spring metal or other elasticmaterial and is doubled, one leg being secured to the steel or busk A,while the free leg d carries the tooth or catch d, which is to engagewith the opening 19 in the tongue B when the two parts of the clasp arebrought together, as shown in Fig. 3. The doubled end of the part D ofthe clasp immediately behind the retaining tooth or catch d is made inthe form of a contracted pocket 00, which receives and holds theextended end of the tongue B, and by this means when the clasp is closedthe tongue B is retained at the base of the retaining tooth or catch d,as shown in Fig. 3. In order to guide the.outer end of the tongue morereadily into this pocket in closing the clasp an incline is made in thepart D of the clasp near where it is fastened to the steel up to thepocket 0:. If desired, the free leg d, which carries the retaining toothor catch may be extended out over the steel or busk A, as shown in Fig.4, to facilitate the lifting of this elastic leg by the finger torelease the retaining tooth or catch from the opening in the tongue B toopen the clasp.

In the modification, Fig. 5, I have shown the part D of the clasp asmade of a somewhat different shape from that illustrated in Figs. 2 andS, but retaining its characteristic features.

In Fig. 5 the base of the part D, by which it is riveted or otherwisesecured to the steel A, is bent backward, and in such case in order toget the incline for carrying the tongue B up into its retaining-pocket mthe steel itself may be punched up, as at I claim as my-invention Aclasp consisting of two parts, of which one has a tongue with an openingand an outer end extended some distance beyond the opening, while theother part consists of a piece doubled upon itself to leave an elasticleg carrying a retaining-catch and to form a pocket adapted to hold theextended end of the tongue at the base of the catch, and the lower armof which is bent away from the spring-arm and then extended in a planesubstantially parallel With the elastic leg for securing it to the bush,all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

' HARRY F. [YATT.

Witnesses:

JOHN REVELL, 'HUBERT HowsoN.

